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Home / Outcomes / 2021 Summaries of Police Investigations

Decision to command Police dog to bite was unnecessary

19 October 2021

The Authority oversaw a Police investigation into a Police dog bite on a man who was obstructing Police and resisting arrest in Auckland.

The dog handler commanded his dog to bite the man because other officers were struggling to overpower and handcuff him, and he believed the man was about to assault them. However, many other officers were present who could have assisted with the arrest without resorting to using the dog.

Police found there was insufficient evidence to prosecute the dog handler for assault. They completed an employment investigation and found the dog handler's decision to command the dog to bite was an error of judgment, which they have addressed with him.

The Authority believes the use of the dog was unnecessary and agrees with the Police outcome.

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